• Authors:
    • Stuchi, E. S.
    • Souza, M. C. de
    • Goes, A. de
  • Source: Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A citrus scab disease, caused by Elsinoe fawcettii, is currently found in all citrus areas throughout Brazil. That being, given the importance of this casual agent, the behavior of tangerines and hybrids influenced by this pathogen was evaluated under natural infection conditions. This study was performed with plants around 15 years old without irrigation; 100 fruits of three plants were collected during harvest season, using a grade scale varying from 0 (absence of symptoms) to 6 (severe symptoms) the level of disease severity was determined. Among the cultivars, citrus scab resistance was observed in Citrus deliciosa, C. tangerina, C. nobilis; a mandarin hybrid ( C. nobilis * C. deliciosa) and a satsuma hybrid ( C. unshiu * C. sinensis). Among the other genotypes, symptoms were observed with levels of severity ranging from 1 to 3, indicating moderate resistance.
  • Authors:
    • Carvalho, D. F. de
    • Botrel, T. A.
    • Souza, W. J.
    • Silva, L. D. B. da
  • Source: Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The use of localized irrigation using microtube as emitter under turbulent flow regime can be a technically feasible alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a fertigation system in nursery of citrus plants (greenhouse) projected by universal mathematical model, using the microtubes as emitters, under turbulent flow rate and to compare the development of the fertigated plants by microtubes to the system that use the traditional method with hoses. In the size of the length of the emitters was considered the K coefficient of localized energy dissipation using a microtube with internal diameter of 0,761 mm. The fertigation system presented great performance with clogging degree, Christiansen uniformity and emission uniformity values equal to 0,50; 99,95 and 98,21%, respectively, after 160 days of study. Plants that were grown using fertigation with both microtubes and hoses showed no difference as regards to stem diameter and height. Thus, the use of the microtube under turbulent flow rate presented technical feasible for fertigation system.
  • Authors:
    • Germana, C.
    • Intrigliolo, F.
    • Giuffrida, A.
    • Stagno, F.
    • Continella, A.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Issue: 889
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: During three consecutive years, in a citrus orchard planted with Tarocco 'Meli' and 'Scire' on sour orange ( C. aurantium L.) were verified the differences of the plant water status and the possibility to build an empirical model to estimate the psi pd utilizing stem water potential (psi md) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD md) measured at midday. The first results showed statistical differences during the irrigation season in the two clones water potential. These difference permitted to separate the data of Tarocco 'Meli' and 'Scire'. As a result, two empirical models were built. The 2nd degree equation (Psi pd=a+b 1Psi md+b 2VPD md) was obtained by considering the Psipd as dependent variable, the Psi md and the VPD md as explanatory variables. ANOVA applied to the multiple regression resulted highly significant with P-value
  • Authors:
    • Sungur, S.
    • Sangün, M. K.
  • Source: Food Chemistry
  • Volume: 126
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Recently, the exposure to perchlorate was emphasised as an important risk factor for human and especially newborn health. A number of studies were focused on this matter. In this study, samples of soil, vegetable (cabbage, spinach, lettuce, carrot, tomato, red cabbage), fruit (orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit), water, milk and fish were taken from 8 different regions of Hatay (Samandag, Krkhan, Reyhanl, Amik Plain, Dortyol, Yayladag, Altnozu, Erzin). An ion chromatography system (Shimadzu C196-E039A model) was used to determine the concentrations of perchlorate in the samples. 2.5 mM Phthalic acid and 2.4 mM tris (hydroxymethyl)aminomethane solutions (pH=4) were used as the mobile phase. A flow rate of 1.5 ml min -1 and oven temperature of 40°C were used during the analysis. The foods had perchlorate concentrations in the range of 0.236-1.218 g kg -1. The perchlorate concentration varied from 0.300.01 to 0.940.02 g l -1 in milk samples. Perchlorate concentrations were determined to be lower in the drinking waters (0.440.03 g l -1) compared to irrigation waters (0.590.03 g l -1). Perchlorate concentrations of the fish samples were ranged from 0.380.01 to 0.610.01 g kg -1.
  • Authors:
    • Kapur, B.
    • Tekin, S.
    • Koc, D. L.
    • Kanber, R.
    • Unlu, M.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 98
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field study on cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L., cv.) was carried out from 2005 to 2008 in the Cukurova Region, Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey. Treatments were designated as I100 full irrigation; DI 70, DI 50 and DI 00 which received 70, 50, and 0% of the irrigation water amount applied in the I100 treatment. The irrigation water amount to be applied to the plots was calculated using cumulative pan evaporation that occurred during the irrigation intervals. The effect of water deficit or water stress on crop yield and some plant growth parameters such as yield response, water use efficiencies, dry matter yield (DM), leaf area index (LAI) as well as on lint quality components was evaluated. The average seasonal evapotranspiration ranged from 28715 (DI 00) to 58480 mm ( I100). Deficit irrigation significantly affected crop yield and all yield components considered in this study. The average seed cotton yield varied from 1369197 (DI 00) to 3397508 kg ha -1 ( I100). The average water use efficiency (WUE ET) ranged from 6.01.6 ( I100) to 4.80.9 kg ha -1 mm -1 (DI 00), while average irrigation water use efficiency (WUE I) was between 9.43.0 ( I100) and 14.44.8 kg ha -1 mm -1 (DI 50). Deficit irrigation increased the harvest index (HI) values from 0.260.054 ( I100) to 0.320.052 kg kg -1 (DI 50). Yield response factor (Ky) was determined to be 0.98 based on four-year average. Leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter yields (DM) increased with increasing water use. This study demonstrated that the full irrigated treatment ( I100) should be used for semiarid conditions with no water shortage. However, DI 70 treatment needs to be considered as a viable alternative for the development of reduced irrigation strategies in semiarid regions where irrigation water supplies are limited.
  • Authors:
    • Lee, G. J.
    • Abdel-Haleem, H.
    • Boerma, R. H.
  • Source: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
  • Volume: 122
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Drought stress adversely affects soybean at various developmental stages, which collectively results in yield reduction. Unpredictable rainfall has been reported to contribute about 36% to variation of yield difference between the rain-fed and irrigated fields. Among the drought resistance mechanisms, drought avoidance in genotypes with fibrous roots was recognized to be associated with drought resistance in soybean. Plant introduction PI416937 was shown to possess fibrous roots and has been used as a parent in breeding programs to improve soybean productivity. Little information is available on relative contribution and chromosomal location of quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning fibrous roots in soybean. To identify the genomic locations and genetic bases of this trait, a recombinant inbred line population was derived from a cross between PI416937 and 'Benning'. To detect associated QTLs, phenotypic data were collected and analyzed for 2 years under rain-fed field conditions. The selective genotyping approach was used to reduce the costs and work associated with conducting the QTL analysis. A total of five QTLs were identified on chromosomes Gm01 (Satt383), Gm03 (Satt339), Gm04 (Sct_191), Gm08 (Satt429), and Gm20 (Sat_299), and together explained 51% of the variation in root score. Detected QTLs were co-localized with QTLs related to root morphology, suggesting that fibrous roots QTL may be associated with other morpho-physiological traits and seed yield in soybean. Genetic dissection of the fibrous roots trait at the individual marker loci will allow for marker-assisted selection to develop soybean genotypes with enhanced levels of fibrous roots.
  • Authors:
    • Nagih, A.
    • Lemalade, J. L.
    • Alfandari, L.
    • Plateau, G.
  • Source: Annals of Operations Research
  • Volume: 190
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: We propose a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming model for a class of multi-period crop rotation optimization problems with demand constraints and incompatibility constraints between cultivation and fallow state on a land plot. This model is applied to a case study on Madagascan farms in the scope of a sustainable development campain against deforestation, where the objective is to better control agricultural space while covering seasonal needs of farmer. We propose an efficient upper bound computation and study the variation of the minimum number of plots and total space needed in function of the unitary surface area of a plot. Numerical results associated with the Madagascan case are reported.
  • Authors:
    • Costa Crusciol, C. A.
    • Calonego, J. C.
    • Amaral Castro, G. S.
  • Source: Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of crop rotation systems and liming materials on soil physical properties. The experiment was carried out from October 2006 to July 2008, in Botucatu, SP, Brazil, in a completely randomized block design in a split-plot arrangement with eight replicates. Main plots consisted of four crop rotation systems: soybean/fallow/maize/fallow, soybean/white-oat/maize/bean, soybean/millet/maize/pigeon pea and soybean/signal grass/maize/signal grass. Subplots consisted of the control treatment, without soil correction, and of the application of 3.8 Mg ha(-1) of dolomitic lime (ECC = 90%) or 4.1 Mg ha(-1) of calcium-magnesium silicate (ECC = 80%), on the surface of a clayed Rhodic Ferralsol. Aggregate stability, soil bulk density, total porosity, macro and microporosity, soil penetration resistance and moisture content were evaluated. Superficial application of the lime materials does not reduce soil aggregation and increases macroporosity down to 0.20 m, with calcium-magnesium silicate application, and to 0.10 m, when lime is applied. Soil under fallow in off-season decreases aggregate stability and increases soil penetration resistance in upper layers. The cultivation of Congo signal grass, between summer crops, increases aggregate stability down to 0.10-m depth.
  • Authors:
    • Lima, N. R. C. de B.
    • Mendonca, F. C.
    • Santos, P. M.
    • Araujo, L. C. de
  • Source: Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia
  • Volume: 40
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The objective of this work was to evaluate the development and productive traits of palisadegrass single cultivated or intercropped with corn, in addition to corn intercropped with pasture, under water deficit at different development stages of the plants. It was used a complete block experimental design with split plots and three replicates. Periods of water deficit were placed in the plots and types of cultivation were placed in the subplots. Irrigation was stopped at germination and initial tillering of palisadegrass and at V4 and V15 stages of corn and returned when soil moisture was 40% of available water capacity. Tiller density and palisadegrass height were evaluated weekly. Dry matter (DM) of fractions of herbage mass as well as leaf area of the plants were evaluated at corn tasseling and when grains reached physiological maturity. Components of corn production were determined in the second sampling. In palisadegrass, water influenced only tillering, which was reduced in the plots in which water defict was forced at the moment of germination or at the beginning of tilering, in both cultivation systems. Plant height and DM production were affected only by cultivation, reducing when intercropped with corn. Evaluated production components did not influence corn grain productivity, which was similar in all treatments (average of 10,145 kg/ha). Palisadegrass plants produce more DM in single cultivation than intercropped with corn. Water deficit during germination and initial tillering reduces tillering of palisadegrass during establishment phase. Water deficit, applied in this trial, does not reduce DM yield in palisadegrass or corn.
  • Authors:
    • Tann, C. R.
    • Baker, G. H.
    • Fitt, G. P.
  • Source: Bulletin of Entomological Research
  • Volume: 101
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Pheromone and light traps have often been used in ecological studies of two major noctuid pests of agriculture in Australia, Helicoverpa armigera and H. punctigera. However, results from these two methods have rarely been compared directly. We set pheromone and light traps adjacent to or amongst cotton and various other crops for 10-11 years in the Namoi Valley, in northern New South Wales, Australia. Catches in pheromone traps suggested a major peak in (male) numbers of H. punctigera in early spring, with relatively few moths caught later in the summer cropping season. In contrast, (male) H. armigera were most abundant in late summer. Similar trends were apparent for catches of both male and female H. armigera in light traps, but both sexes of H. punctigera were mostly caught in mid-summer. For both species, males were more commonly caught than females. These catch patterns differed from some previous reports. At least three generations of both species were apparent in the catches. There was some evidence that the abundance of later generations could be predicted from the size of earlier generations; but, unlike previous authors, we found no positive relationships between local winter rainfall and subsequent catches of moths, nor did we find persuasive evidence of correlations between autumn and winter rainfall in central Australia and the abundance of subsequent 1st generation H. punctigera moths. Female H. punctigera were consistently more mature (gravid) and more frequently mated than those of H. armigera. Overall, our results highlight the variability in trap catches of these two species and question the use of trap catches and weather as predictors of future abundance in cropping regions.